From WotC: Here is how the new Conversion Policy affects the Creature Catalog

[Grazzt]

OK- after initial discussions with the peeps at WotC we are cool...just a few minor changes.

#1- I will be getting a list of IP monsters that must be altered...not taken down. Really just the names must be changed. According to what I have been told, it is only a few. So, no worries.

#2- There will probably be a click through to get to the converted monsters pages, much like the click through for the OGL monsters. Since the conversions now fall under the OGL/d20 licenses, this is the most likely (easiest and cleanest) route to take. There are a few other options, but none are really that attractive to me.

#3- Flavor text. For now, it is cool. But- NO MORE verbatim stuff. As a side, I will probably go back and begin rewriting all the stuff that is VERBATIM.

 

[Krishnath]

Sounds good, I've always thought of WotC as a fair and open company, and so far they haven't let me down.

 

[Grazzt]

Agreed. There is a 3e Conversion thread in the GenDisc forum that is well, in parts, less than flattering to the new conversion policy.

But hey- WotC is just protecting their property. I would do the same thing if I were in their place. If they don't defend their IP/trademarks/etc...it can become public domain, and while that sounds cool, it would really suck in the long run.

So- no ill feelings toward WotC from my side. From initial discussions with them, we are very cool as we are. Like I said, there is a list (a handful of monsters) that they want me to rework/rename for IP purposes, but no big deal. I believe I can accomodate them on that one.

Hell, they could've pulled a TSR (of the mid-late 90's) and said: "Shut it down you bastard!"

 

[Krishnath]

Ofcourse they could, but fortunatly they won't, for unlike the late TSR, WotC was a company started and run by GAMERS! Which in many ways is a good thing. They care alot about getting positive feedback from their customers, so they can become a better company, unlike microsoft <snicker>

 

[Gez]

For new names of creature, be sure to choose ones that are near to the old. Like the warg/worg scene. The reason ? Not to annoy WotC (I doubt they would be annoyed by this, by the way -- IIRC, their reason to demand this is to not have these names fall in the public domain), but to allow people to quicly find out what the monster really is.

For example, if the Flumph needs to be renamed, name it the Flomph. Yan-C-Bin could become Ian-Cee-Bin. Dire Corbies could be Corbics. Ixitxachitl could be Ischitshachitl (since 'x' is just a different spelling for 'sh' in south-american native cultures, like Inca or Aztec). I've added a 'c' between 's' and 'h' because the boards would have put smilies otherwise...

 

[BOZ]

that sounds about right gez. of course, since scott says it's only a small portion of monster names affected, maybe it's mostly only the "proper name" folks, like jubilex, ygorl, cryonax, and those other loveable fellows. i'm sure there are a few others, too.

 

[Grazzt]

Not sure exactly which ones are going to be affected. Anthony hasnt sent me the list yet. But- initial conversations with him indicate that it is only a handful of monsters that will be affected.

And BTW Boz, that should be "JUIBLEX", though if we have to change it, it will indeed become "JUBILEX"

 

[BOZ]

LOL that must be one of those words i spell wrong every time.

 

[Grazzt]

No worries buddy....hell, I thought it was J-u-b-i-l-e-x for about 17 years. Only recently did I realize that it was indeed J-U-I-B-L-E-X.

 

[Mark]

Good to hear that is all working out well, Scott, for you and the crew of monsterites...

I hope that you'll be able to use the names of the individuals who do the converting so that they can each get proper credit for their efforts.

Maybe once it is all converted with proper d20 and OGL documentation some (other) d20 publishers will be using your work directly and citing your site in their "Section 15" details!